Rescuers pull 30 bodies out of apartment building in Lebanon

Rescuers pulled 30 bodies out of a damaged apartment building on Tuesday after an Israeli strike hit the coastal town of Barja, according to Lebanon’s Civil Defence.

Civil defence official Mostafa Danaj said some of the neighbours have reported there are still people missing as a result of the strike, which came without warning.

The Israeli military has yet to comment on the explosion, the target of which is not yet known.

A building resident, Muhyiddin Al-Qalaaji, said he was at work when the strike happened and heard the news from his wife.

“There are many dead and injured,” he said as he carried out what he could salvage of the family’s belongings on Wednesday morning.

Israel has continued to pound parts of Lebanon by air, as its troops also push into the southern part of the country.

The militant group Hezbollah, who Israel says it is fighting in Lebanon, launched 10 rockets toward Israel on Wednesday as both sides continue to exchange fire.

A large portion of a rocket launched by Hezbollah slammed into a parked car in the central Israeli city of Raanana. Rockets also struck an open area near Israel’s main airport, Israeli media reported, though the airport said flights were operating as normally.

Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue services said there were no injuries.

The two sides have been clashing since Hezbollah started firing rockets across the border into Israel following the Hamas-led attack in Israel on 7 October last year.

Israel has focused its troops in Lebanon since mid-September, although it has continued to hit northern Gaza, killing hundreds of civilians.

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed his defence minister Yoav Gallant, replacing him with loyalist Israel Katz.

There are concerns Gallant’s replacement is a sign that the Israeli leader is intent on pushing forward with his military aims, as Gallant promoted the idea that military force was a precondition for at least a temporary ceasefire.

Netanyahu and Gallant have previously been at odds over the war in Gaza, but the prime minister avoided letting go of his rival before the US presidential election on Tuesday.

Gallant’s dismissal has led to protests across the country, with protesters arguing for a ceasefire agreement that would release the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Hamas.

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A ceasefire deal has repeatedly stalled, with both sides not being able to agree on preconditions necessary to achieve temporary peace in the region.

The previous ceasefire deal was promoted by the Biden administration. On Wednesday morning, US media announced that he would be replaced by Donald Trump.

Video editor • Jerry Fisayo-Bambi

Additional sources • AP